Soap composition



Patented Dec. 29, 1936 soar COMPOSITION John B. Lewis, Cranford, N. J.,and John 0. Bird, Germantown, Pa., assignors to Standard Oil DevelopmentCompany, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application April 21,1932,

Serial No. 606,758

Z'Claims. (01. 87-5) This invention relates to improved soapcompositions ,and more especially to soap compositions containingsulfonic acids and sulfonates in limited amount.

The preparation of soap compositions by incorporating suitable liquidssuch as water and fat solvents such as naphtha and other hydrocarbonoils, turpentine, pine oil and the like with ordinary detergent soapssuch as the alkali metal salts of fatty acids or other vegetable, animalor oxidized wax acids, is commonly'practiced. Such compositions,however; especially when the amount of incorporated liquid is relativelylarge, possess the disadvantage of being much softer than the originalsoap. These compositions are also relatively unstable a'ndtheincorporated liquid tends to separate. on standing, as when thecomposition is sold in cans which may remain on the dealer's shelves forsome time before use.

We have-nowfou'nd that the addition of a small amount of a sulfonic acidor sulfonate to such soap compositions serves to harden them materially.The compositions are also stabilized so that the incorporated liquid nolonger separates, even though the soap maybe stored for extended periodsof time'of several months or 7 more either in contact with theatmosphere or in sealed cans. j

The water-soluble sulfonic acids and alkali ,30 metal sulfonatesobtained from hydrocarbon oil acid sludge are especially suitable foruse in these improved soap compositions. When a hydrocarbon oil such asa petroleum lubricating oil, white oil stock or kerosene is treated withstrong or lower layer of acid sludgeforms and may be separately removed.This acid sludge contains sulfuric acid, water-soluble sulfo-bodieswhich areconsidered for the-purpose of this invention to 40 be sulfonicacids and other organic materials of an asphaltic, tarry or resinousnature. Means for separating and purifying these sulfonic acids andpreparing water-soluble soaps thereof are generally known. Improvedmeans are described in co-pending applications Ser. No. 585,158, filed35 fuming sulfuric acid and allowed to stand, a'

composition which may be prepared according to our invention:

A potassium soft soap prepared from the acid radicals of soya bean orlinseed oil and containing about 60% of water, was thoroughly mixed 5with 0.5% of sodium sulfonates prepared from a petroleum oil acidsludge. Samples of the original soap-water composition and of thecomposition containing added sulfonate were stored in metal cans forfour months and were inspected 10 from'time to time. The separation ofwater in a. distinct mobile layerwas apparent on the surface of theoriginal composition within a few days while no separation ,occurredduring the entire period of observation with the composition con- 15taining added sulfonate.

Separation of water took place from samples of this soap compositioncontaining less than 0.2% of added sulfonates but no separation wasapparent with samples containing 0.5% to 5% 20 or even more. Thehardness of the composition increased with added sulfonates up to about5% but the addition of more than 10% of sulfonate caused the compositionto become increasingly softer and with about 25 to 40% of sulfonates a25 readily fluid mixture results.

Compositions similar to the above may be prepared with naphtha or otherfat solvents as the incorporated liquid. Sodium or ammonium soaps may beused, andthe soaps may be prepared from various other oils or fats.Soaps containing acids prepared by oxidation of petroleum wax areespecially desirable. Perfumes and dyes may be added as desired.Abrasives, such as silica and pumice, may also be added for preparinghand soaps suit-.- able for removing greasy substances.

Suli'onic acids derived from petroleum oil acid sludge may be used insoap compositions similar to those described above. Alkali metalsulfonates, and generally all metal sulfonates soluble in the 40incorporated liquids, including those of the heavier metals such asbarium, calcium, lead silver,

v and others, are also suitable.

The amount of incorporated liquid may vary widely and depends upon thecharacteristics of the soap used and the composition desired, ourinvention being applicable to all soap compositions of a solid nature.For example, water may be used in a proportion of about 30 to 70%, ormore or less. Heavy oils such as white oils may be used in similarproportions, while with more volatile oils such as naphtha, benzene, andkerosene, it may be preferable to use a smaller amount, say from 5 to25% or more.

Other methods for preparing these improved soap compositions may also beused. For example, the sulfonic acids or sulfonates may be added cificexamples given herein solely for purpose of illustration but only by thefollowing claims, in which we wish to claim all novelty insofar as the10 prior art permits.

We claim: 1. A solid soap composition comprising about 65% to 95% or analkali metal soap 01' a fatty acid, 5% to 25% of. a hydrocarbon liquidand 0.5% to 10% 0t sulfonic acid salts derived frommineral oil acidsludge.

2. A solid soap composition comprising about 65% to 95% of an alkalimetal soap or a fatty acid, 5% to 25% of naphtha and 0.5% to 10% ofsulfonic acid salts derived from mineral oil acid sludge.

. JOHN B. LEWIS. JOHN C. BIRD.

